OUR BABIES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20104, 24 March 1928, Page 16 (Supplement)

OUR BABIES

STUTTERING IN CHILDREN. From time to lime we are asked to advise about the cause and the treatment of stammering and stuttering in children, and we hope the following remarks may prove .helpful to parents laced with the management of this problem. Stuttering is, of course, a manifestation of ‘‘nervousness’ in children, and may be .described as a “co-ordi-nation neurosis.” Th e Mech.ani s m of Speech. Goo.! articulate speech is brought about by the more or Jess perfect coordination of three physical meohanisms presided over and directed by three separate centres of the nervous system, each of which has to be drilled to play its part in due lime ami harmony with tho other Iwo. The three mechanisms are as follows:First, the bellows—in other words, the chest, which needs to be alternately inflated an! compressed so as To maintain a more or Jess steady flow of air. Secondly, the larynx, a marvellous little musical pipe in the throat, through which tihe air from the bellows passes, regulated by the vocal cords. Thirdly, the articulatory and resonating mechanism, of which lhe main chamber is t.he mouth, where the muscles of the tongue, jaws, ami cheeks play their part. The marvel is that any child can ever learn to co-ordinate these three separate mechanisms properly, seeing that each mechanism is itself complex and needs co-ordination within its own sphere, quite apart from the task of acting in dmo accord with the other two Obviously such a wonderful complex of complexes should not be overtaxed or unduly stimulated. A consideration of violin or ’echo playing may be helpful in attempting

to realise the difficulties of co-ordi-nation, and how easily they may be upset. In playing the violin one hand is on gag ci I in drawing the bow across the strings, whilst the other hand has the duty of directing articulation of the sounds, as it were, by means of the fingers playing on the strings. Excitement, o\er-anxi<‘ty, or over-tax-ing and fatigue may cause the pupil to make rapid, spasmodic movements of the lingers on the strings while neglecting to draw the bow, and this may alternate with a frantic drawing of the bow, and failure to manipulate lhe strings. Carry the same idea into the playing of. a wind instrument am! you have the common phenomenon heard in stutterers who gasp ami produce no sound beyond a mere indraw or meaningless phonation, and perhaps alternate this with spasmodic grim Temperament. Naturally, people with a “nervous” tempera men t—quick, alert, responsive, ; and super-sensitive—arc more likely to suffer from any form of defective power of control than those whose re- • actions an* slower, and who, on the . whole, would be classi < !•. as less bright and clever but more stable. Over-stimulation. Some children an* “brought out,’ taught to recite, sing, and otherwise perform before an audience. Apart from the fact that such practices usually mean loss of precious sleeping I time, t.he consequent over-stimulation of the brain and nervous system is thoroughly bad, ami may lea . ■ ous nervous manifestations, an ca: • which are stuttering, twitchings, an noying little tricks and in extreme instances more or less complete nervousbreakdown. Although some children appear to learn an ( 4 perform without effort anrl such arc probably less taxed than their slower sisters who umleri go a more definite forcing process, the ! practice is wrong in either case, ami [the ultimate result is wholly bad. Charming as it undoubtedly is to watch a child perform, the sight loses its charm once one realises the damage which may be done to the rapidly growing, delicate little brain ..n l d nervous system by such over-strain. Learnt songs too often crush the song with in—the natural, beautiful, unconscious urge to sing and shout at play. Curiously enough, constant over suppression, nagging, or failure to understand a child may bring about somewhat similar nervous tricks in r highjy-strung, sensitive child. Treatment. The treatment largely lies, of course, in removal of the cause or causes, and Ifhen in re-education of the nervous

co-ordination involved in correct arti« eulation—not easy work on either line. TH ■ most skilled medical advice should be sought and carefully carrioi out. Generally speaking, parents tend to allow a trouble of this kind to develop insidiously for some time before making any systematic attempt 1»> counteract it. and only consult a doctor when the habit has become thoroughly confirmed. This is a great mistake. The earliest signs of any manifestation of nervous inco-ordination should receive serious attention. Treatment is infinitely easier in the early stages, ami tho chances of an ultimate euro much greater.